04/04/2024
Its easier to land man on Mars than to change the education system (Elon Musk).
I remember walking into the university gates going to study a course I had no idea about. All I knew was that I needed to be in University, do better than my parents by getting a degree and eventually get a bigger job than them even if it meant studying what I didn't like or had no idea about. The education system made it even worse as it required me to memorize more rather than think. Watching other students perform far better than I was always made me ask myself if other people were more blessed than I was and if so why was that the case? I also wondered what criteria God used to bless the other students.
Today when I look back I realise I focused on things that I did not like rather than on things that I liked. We all have different abilities and our focus should be on our strengths. The education system should teach us how to think as opposed to teach us what to think. Elon Musk said "If you want to teach children how engines work, you wouldn't want to first teach them all about wrenches and all about screw drivers. You would show them the engine, then ask how they would take it apart."
I reiterate what Albert Einstein said "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” I managed to get my degree because I thought that was the only way I would make it in life but once I started reading about personal development and many more things not taught in school, I realized even without it, I will still make it.I found the hope I was looking for and I decided to pack my degree and started on focusing on what I really love and the journey is so fulfilling thus far.
It is time we realized that everyone is born unique and has something to bring to the world. Let us therefore confine the thinking of the young pupils and underestimate what they can bring fourth to the world. Instead of teachers just teaching it's time they not only helped the children to discover their different abilities but also take time to listen from the their students and try out their ideas.
It is about time we started questioning the relevance of some of these topics before teaching them. It's about time we become more practical and allow pupils to be creative and try out the ideas they bring across and not just allow teachers to dump what they memorized at their colleges 10 years on the pupils and expect pupils to do the same. There are so many things that are taught that are so unnecessary and there are things that have different answers and yet the education system will require only one answer. In the picture the student was actually right because times have changed but because the education system is still obsolete, the students answer appeared wrong. Why then are we learning tools that are irrelevant for today's world or are we preparing for the past? Focus on your strengths and keep upgrading your knowledge. Since it's hard to change the education system, it is your job to educate yourself or you will remain with information for a world that no longer exists.
